Combination table and bench construction



y & 9 J. c. HIGGENS 2,353,892

COMBINATION TABLE AND BENCH CONSTRUCTION Filed July 11} 1942 PatentedJuly 18, 1944 e is 2,353,892-

' C OMBINATIONTABLE AND BENCH Q j I CONSTRUCTION v Joseph onig inohieagb, Ill. a A H ;'fAiinli etiepuly1i,1942;seh nef rsaecs 3-= A -,5Glaims. (cuss-12er- 'f x Thisinventionrelates to improvements infurskilled in the art to whi'chit appertainsfI-have niturepand has foran object,' to providea cominthe accompanying drawing'and the detailedbinationf tablean'd bench construction wherein description basedthereupon, set out one e'mbo'di the benches, when not in use, may beconvenientment of my invention. 1y noveid or swung, to out of-the -waypositions .5 In the drawing: H i under the table topand within the tableframe Figure l is'a side elevation of my improved in s ibstantiallynesting relation to the, latter, table with one of the benchesremovedand the hence, affording table 'by-pas'sing Convenience t ertbe h a a gn p ti p s asiwe'll as effecting material space "conservation. Figure 2is an end elevation of my improved 1 Moreover, it is an object of theinvention a to in table wherein one of the benches is shown in'anprovide, a table of the stated character which, operative position andthe other thereof in an w thm v me t 95 93 2 l p iv pqsiinoperative orout-of-the-way' position, and tions will'insure' ther'etention of suchbenches u 3 is an enlarged (f tarydetai inl'ffixed relation to the tabland c in section,taken on the line 3- 3 (Jr-Figure 2, piedjwill steadyor secure th table against 1111- i looking in the direction in which thearrows desirablesh ifting, tipping'oroverturning. f PQ I 'rflno'therobject or the, invention is to provide Having moreparticular'reierence'to the draw novel forms of supporting frames forthe table ing,'in which like characters of reference will b h fth Sameng p m pffa brication designate corresponding" parts throughout, the fpb tmn t mi m if a t table construction comprisesrelatively sp'aced'endpenditure and of being'movably connected to the Supporting f s,generally indicated by t hu table frame or legs without linkage or,similar meral r p}; of ppr pr e i ng d attac hinges, r p i es 1 over andconnected to said frames, and ben'che'sl "A further of the nve t n iSOlPIOvide generally designated'by'the-numeral'3; connected tablesupporting franies (end 'frai nes) so .cont0 e i ner opposite sides ofthe su'pfib t striicted as to receive and uniformly distribute framesLin a'mann'er hereinafter described.'"Ihe table applied l oads 'anolstressestherethroughout ab end pporting frames l' and'the benchesandtotransmit such received stresses through it Will be Obsrvd, a olfrespondmg C011- mjnimumsized basal or supporting surfac [enstruction.Inconsequence, referencewillbe heregaging portions a to in r i imu owear '3'0 inafter made to one of each thereof and such and tear upon asupporting surface, i'. e., a fl r reference will suffice for theothers. qr thelike; engaged thereby. j w e The endirame I is preferablymade of meta Itis also an objectofthe invention to protubing, consis ngof relatively bpbOS d g 1 vide bench supporting frames: of suchconstruc- 'tions '4, the outer sides of which are upright, as tion as toproduce surface engaging basal por 35 shown Fig r d the imlltsides 2 3"of 'a'm'inimurn' area or size without sacrifice and inwardlydisposed asat 5 havingthe" integral offthe all-ir'npor'tant feature of person orload intermediate portion flattened' and apertured as supper-t ngefliciency, hence, insuring aminimurn at 8 (see Figure '2). Bends aremade' 'inthe of contact wear and tear upon a floor or other io'werportionsof each of the legs '4 and provide 'sufraee'engaged thereby. I jin supporting surface 7 (floor) engaging means or A still further'objectofthe invention is w r feet, affording a minimum 7 of contacting areavide' benches for the table having their end 'sup ithr ivi r supp rtin srface such'as a porting"frames so" constructed and connected floor orthe like. Apertured, flattened and anto the companionate or adjacentenqflsupporting gularly disposed fingers '7 are formed on the up framesthat such benches, when swung or moved per ends, or upright portions thelegs 4." A to inoperative andsubst'antially nestingre'lati'onsubstantially V -shaped member affording obliquebetween the table frameswill have their: their ly disposed-braces or'struts 9, 'havingangularlyinwardly disposed porti'ons counter balance'd and formed and oppositelydisposed apertured'fingers by reason thereof, will be oause'd'topositively re- I Hi onthe opposite ends of the'saine -arfdf'its'inmainin such relation and prevented from unde- '50 terniediate port onflattened and apertured'as at si rably moving or droppingaway'therefrom. H is protided'the 'legsll,as is "also shown in the Otherobjects of the invention will be in part Figure 2. Boltsor likefastening devices l2 are obvious and in art pointed out hereinafter.passed through the juxtaposed apertured fingers In order that theinvention and its mode of T and H) of the cornpanio'nate 1egs 4 andbraces operation maybe readily understood by those 'Sinto engagementwith adjacent portions oft-he length of the table top 2, is provided.The opposite ends of this bracing element I3 are formed with aperturedand flattened outwardly extending fingers I3 arranged in juxtaposedrelation to the relatively overlying apertured portions 80f,

the oblique sides 5 of the legs 4 and the braces or struts 9. Bolts orlike fastening devices I4 are engaged through these overlying andjuxtaposed apertured portions 8 and I I and fingers I3. Hence, a fixedand rigid connection will be effected between the end supporting framesI an the longitudinal bracing element I3.

To effect further rigidifying or bracing of the table construction, Imay and preferably do provide a plurality of relatively opposeddiagonally extending tubular bracing members I5, each of which haveflattened apertured and angularly disposed fingers I5 provided upontheir opposite ends. The upper ends of the bracing elements I5 aresecured to portions of the underside of the table top 2 by engagingbolts or the like I6 through their adjacent apertured fingers I5 andwith said top, as illustrated in Figure l. The remaining ends of theoutermost of said bracing members I5 are preferably connected by theaforesaid connecting bolts I4 to the adjacent apertured portions 8 andII of the oblique sides 5 of the legs 4 and the bracing elements 9,while the lower and juxtaposed ends of the remaining bracing members I5are fixedly connected to an intermediate portion of the longitudinalelement I3 by passing a bolt I'I therethrough.

A transversely disposed horizontal supporting bracket I8 is arrangedover the longitudinal element I3, and as shown in the Figures 1 and 2 ofthe accompanying drawing, is fixedly connected thereto by engaging theaforesaid connecting bolt I'I therethrough. Resilient bumper blocks I9.made of rubber or other suitable material, are fixedly carried upon theupper side of the bracket I8 at its opposite extremities and serve apurpose which will be hereinafter described.

The benches 3 each consist of relatively spaced supporting frames 20,preferably made from material corresponding to that of the table endsupporting frames I. formed to provide substantially triangular bodies,as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, including vertical outer sides oruprights, feet or surface en aging basal portions 2I and outwardly bowedsubstantially V-shaped inner side portions 22, the extremities or medialbends of which are adapted to be pivotally connected to appropriateportions of the legs 4 of the table supporting frames I, as hereinaftermore fully described. Bench tops or seats 23, of lengths substantiallycorresponding to the length of the table top 2, are provided the thuspaired bench supporting frames and are fixedly connected thereto byengaging bolts or similar fastening devices 24 through flattened andangularly disposed apertured fingers 20' on the upper extremities of thevertical portion and portion 22 of frame 20 with adjacent portions ofthe underside of the bench tops 23. Bracing members 25, consisting oflengths of tubular metal, are obliquely and longi- Said frames 20 arebent or tudinally disposed between the basal portions of each of thesupporting frames 20 and the adjacent end portions of the top of thebench top or seat 23 being connected to such portions of the frames 20and the top 23 by bolts or like fastening devices 26 passing throughapertured angular fingers on the opposite ends of the same into fixedengagement with said frames and top 23. Additional supporting legs 21may be and preferably are provided the intermediate portions of each ofthe benches 3 and, as will be observed upon reference to Figure 1 of theaccompanying drawing, consist of substantially V-shaped tubular metalpieces of suitable heights or lengths, the free ends of which are formedwith apertured and angularly disposed bracket fingers 28 contacted withadjacent portions of the underside of the bench top 23 and fixedlyconnected thereto by passing bolts or like fastening devices 29 throughthe same into engagement with adjacent portions of said bench top orseat23. .As will be understood, the lengths or heights of thesesupporting legs 2'! correspond to the heights or lengths of the benchsupporting frames 20 for an obvious purpose.

As hereinbefore stated, the inner or substan-. tially V-shaped innersides of the bench supporting frames 20 are pivotally connected to theouter sides of the legs of each of the table supporting frames I. Toaccomplish such connection, openings are formed in appropriate portionsof the outer sides of said legs 4 and in the angled portions or bends ofthe bowed or substantially V- shaped sides 22 of the bench supportingframes. Spacer sleeves 30 and 30' are engaged through these respectiveopenings, whereupon connecting bolts 3I are longitudinally passedthrough the sleeves and locked in relation thereto by means of nuts 32turned on to their screw threaded shank portions, as illustrated inFigure 3 of the accompanying drawing. By reason of this specific form ofconnection, it will be understood that substantially free pivotalmovement of the bench supporting frames 20 with respect to the tablesupporting frames I will be permitted and, at the same time, that amaximum of firmness or stability will be afforded the pivotalconnection.

Due to the fact that the supporting frames 20 of the several benches 3are pivotally connected to the table supporting frames I in proximity totheir respective lower portions, it will be observed thatwhen either orboth said benches are swung to their inoperative or nested positionsbe-, tween the table frames, as shown in Figure 2, the inner marginaledge of the top or seat 23 of such bench or benches will be brought torest upon (Q engage with the particularly adjacent bumper block I9provided on the horizontal bracket I8; moreover, by reason of suchspecific location of .the pivotal connection between the benchsupporting frames and the table supporting frames, the now outwardportion or portions of said bench or benches will be over-balanced andin consequence, will be prevented from undesirably moving or droppingoutwardly and downwardly tooperative positions. It Will be alsounderstood and appreciated that when the table benches 3 have been movedor swung to their respective inoperative or out-of-the-way positionsunder the table top 2 and within its frame, a material conservation ofspace will be effected and too, greater table by-passing conveniencewill be afforded.

Obviously, when the table benches 3 have been moved or swung to theiroperative positions and are occupied or loaded, definite stabilizing ofthe table will be thereby effected and in consequence, undesirableshifting, tilting or even overturning of the thus stabilized or morefirmly anchored table will be prevented. By the same token, it will beunderstood that an even and uniform distribution of those stressesapplied to both the table top 2 and the bench tops 23 will be effectedthroughout their respective supporting frames; also, that the formationof the basal or feet portions of both the table frames and the benchframes is such that they will provide a minimum of contacting area witha receiving and supporting surface, i. e., a floor or the like, hence,reducing wear and tear upon the latter to a material extent.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of further modification,and such modification as is within the scope of my claims, I considerwithin the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A table, including end frames and a top, benches substantiallyparallel to the opposite sides of said top, each comprising endsupporting frames and a top of a length less than the distance betweenthe end frames, each said end supporting frames having their inner sidessubstantially V-shaped with the angular extremities thereof extendedbeyond the adjacent sides of their respective tops, means pivotallyinter-connecting said angular extremities with adjacent portions of thecorresponding sides of said end frames, and other means on the table forreceiving said benches, at times, and supporting them in substantiallyhorizontal positions beneath the table top.

2. A table, including end frames and a top, benches substantiallyparallel to the opposite sides of said top each comprising end,supporting frames and a top of a length less than the distance betweenthe end frames, the normally inner sides of each said end supportingframes being substantially V-shaped with the angular extremitiesoutermost and disposed below their respective horizontal medialportions, means pivotally inter-connecting said end frames and endsupporting frames adjacent said angular extremities of the inner sidesof the end supporting frames and adjacent portions of said end frames,and means on the table beneath its top for receiving said benches, attimes, and supporting them in substantially horizontal planes beneaththe table top.

3. A tab-1e, including end frames and a top,

benches in proximity to the opposite sides of the end frames, eachcomprising supporting frames and a top of a length less than thedistance between the end frames, portions of the normally inner sides ofthe supporting frames being outwardly bowed, and the outermostextremities of said bowed portions being arranged below the horizontalmedial portions of said frames and disposed outwardly and beyond thebench top, means engaging the outermost extremities of said bowedportions pivotally connecting the same to portions of the end framesides, and means on the table beneath its top engageable by the benches,at times, for supporting said benches in positions beneath the table topat substantially right angles to their normal positions.

4. A table, including end frames and a top,

'each end frame comprising relatively opposed legs, the lower portionsof said legs being inwardly disposed and upwardly bent, a longitudinalbracing member beneath the table top connected to the upwardly bent andinwardly disposed portions of said legs, benches of lengths less thanthe distance between said end frames substantially parallel to theopposite sides of said top, means pivotally connecting portions of saidbenches to portions of said end frames at points below the horizontalmedial portions of said benches, and means on said longitudinal bracingmember engageable by the benches, at times, for supporting said benchesin positions beneath the table top at substantially right angles totheir normal positions.

5. A table, including end frames and a top, bracing means beneath thetop connected to portions of the end frames between the opposite sidesthereof, benches in proximity to the opposite sides of the end frameseach comprising substantially U-shaped supporting frames and a top of alength less than the distance between said end frames, portions of thenormally inner sides of the U-shaped supporting frames being disposedoutwardly of and beyond their respective tops and pivotally connected toadjacent portions of the opposite sides of the end frames, and means onsaid bracing means lbelow the table top engageable 'by the benches, attimes, for supporting said benches in positions beneath the table top atsubstantially right angles to their normal positions.

JQfiEPH C'- HI I

